score a touchdown

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "score a touchdown" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in the context of American football to describe the act of successfully getting the ball into the opponent's end zone for a score. Example: "The team worked hard all season, and their efforts paid off when they finally managed to score a touchdown in the championship game."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

If they score a touchdown, game over.

The New York Times

He did not score a touchdown.

The New York Times - Sports

Tigers will score a touchdown and win.

The New York Times

The offense did not score a touchdown.

The New York Times - Sports

But has yet to score a touchdown.

The New York Times - Sports

The Buccaneers did not score a touchdown in either game.

The New York Times - Sports

"We've got to score a touchdown," Gruden said.

The New York Times - Sports

You can't try to score a touchdown on every play".

The New York Times - Sports

"I'd much rather knock somebody on their [backside] than score a touchdown," he said.

The Washington Post

Things you can do in 90 seconds: score a touchdown and make a pizza at SpinFire.

The Washington Post

But what the Patriots should have done is tried to score a touchdown.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "score a touchdown" when describing the act of successfully getting the ball into the opponent's end zone in American football. Ensure the context clearly relates to football or a similar scoring scenario.

Common error

Avoid using "score a touchdown" metaphorically if the audience is unfamiliar with American football. Choose a more universally understood idiom for achieving success.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "score a touchdown" functions as a verb phrase. It describes the action of successfully getting the ball into the end zone in American football. Ludwig confirms its correct and frequent usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "score a touchdown" is a widely recognized and grammatically correct verb phrase, predominantly used in the context of American football to describe a successful scoring play. Ludwig AI's analysis confirms its common usage, primarily within news and media sources. While generally neutral in register, avoid overuse in metaphorical contexts if the audience is unfamiliar with football. Remember to utilize this phrase accurately and appropriately to effectively convey the achievement of scoring a touchdown.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

get a touchdown

Focuses on obtaining the touchdown, rather than the act of scoring.

make a touchdown

Emphasizes the creation or execution of the touchdown play.

achieve a touchdown

Highlights the accomplishment of scoring a touchdown, suggesting effort and success.

record a touchdown

Focuses on the touchdown being officially noted or added to a statistic.

complete a touchdown

Stresses the successful finishing of the touchdown play.

earn a touchdown

Indicates that the touchdown was deserved or obtained through hard work.

put points on the board

A broader term for scoring, not specific to a touchdown.

find the end zone

A more descriptive way of saying score a touchdown, usually from a running play.

cross the goal line

Highlights the physical act of getting into the end zone to score.

punch it in

Informal term for scoring a touchdown, often referring to a short-yardage play.

FAQs

What does it mean to "score a touchdown"?

In American football, to "score a touchdown" means to successfully advance the ball into the opponent's end zone, resulting in six points for the scoring team. It's the primary way to score in the game.

Is it correct to say "make a touchdown" instead of "score a touchdown"?

While "make a touchdown" is understandable, "score a touchdown" is the more common and grammatically preferred phrasing in sports reporting and general conversation.

How can I use "score a touchdown" in a sentence?

You can use "score a touchdown" to describe an action in a football game, like: "The quarterback threw a perfect pass, and the receiver managed to score a touchdown just before halftime."

What is a metaphorical way to use "score a touchdown"?

Metaphorically, "score a touchdown" can mean achieving a significant success or milestone in a non-sports context. For example, "After months of negotiations, the company finally managed to score a touchdown by closing the deal."